Authorities are investigating the death of Myra Theresa Mina-Calove of Woodland Hills, who was struck and killed by an Amtrak train inside the tunnel near Chatsworth Park yesterday evening. According to MyFox Los Angeles, Mina-Calove, 32 (previous reports said 45 or 25), was apparently "walking with her husband, her two sisters and a friend" inside the tunnel when the Pacific Surfliner train that originated in Goleta bound for San Diego carrying 400 passengers came by.
The LAPD say the woman "was struck in the head by a grab-bar on the train," and they believe it's possible that "when the five saw the train coming, they may have panicked and run back into the tunnel instead of out toward the train."
No one on board was hurt, however the train could not resume service for over two hours following the accident. According to Amtrak's Vernae Graham, "[their other area route] The Coast Starlight was delayed by the incident but not directly involved." It is unclear why the 5 were on foot in the tunnel, and to do so is in fact illegal, but "the survivors [are] not expected to be charged."
